The Cologne Cathedral: A Historical And Architectural Wonder

Cologne Cathedral, officially the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, is a Catholic Church cathedral in Cologne, Germany. Construction began in 1248 but was halted around 1560, leaving the cathedral unfinished. Attempts to complete the construction began around 1814, and the edifice was finally completed to its original medieval plan in 1880. It is Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of 6 million people a year. At 157 metres, it is the tallest twin-spired church in the world, the second tallest church in Europe, and the third tallest church of any kind in the world.

Construction

The choir was consecrated in 1322, but construction continued until around 1560, when work stopped, leaving the cathedral unfinished. A large wooden crane was left standing about 184 feet (56 metres) above the ground, at the top of the south tower. The project remained stalled for centuries, and the crane remained in place for 400 years. During the 1790s, French Revolutionary troops occupied Cologne and used the cathedral as a stable and hay barn. Restoration work began in the 1820s, spurred on by Sulpiz Boisserée, a German proponent of the Gothic Revival movement.

Attempts to complete the construction began around 1814, but the project was not properly funded until the 1840s. A new cornerstone was laid by King Frederick William IV of Prussia in 1842, and work to complete the cathedral resumed in earnest under the architects Ernst Friedrich Zwirner and Richard Voigtel. The edifice was finally completed to its original medieval plan in 1880—632 years after construction had begun. The completion of Germany's largest cathedral was celebrated as a national event, attended by Emperor Wilhelm I.

The Cologne Cathedral is a "masterpiece of exceptional intrinsic value" and "a powerful testimony to the strength and persistence of Christian belief in medieval and modern Europe". It is Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of 6 million people a year.

Architecture

Cologne Cathedral, officially the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture. It is the largest Gothic church in northern Europe and features two immense towers that stand 515 feet (157 metres) tall, making it the tallest twin-spired church in the world.

The cathedral's construction began in 1248, but it was halted around 1560 and remained unfinished for centuries. The project finally resumed in the 19th century, with architects Ernst Friedrich Zwirner and Richard Voigtel completing the structure in 1880 according to the original medieval plans.

The exterior of the cathedral is characterised by its towering spires, which are entirely Germanic in style and open-work. The western façade is the largest church façade in the world, spanning 7,000 square metres. The cathedral's ground plan is in the shape of a Latin Cross, as is typical of Gothic cathedrals. It has two aisles on either side, supporting one of the highest Gothic vaults in the world. Externally, the thrust of the vault is counteracted by flying buttresses in the French style.

The interior of the cathedral is equally impressive. The medieval choir features intricate details, including the high altar, which is constructed of black marble with a solid slab of limestone measuring 15 feet (4.6 metres) in length. The choir also retains the original carved oak choir stalls from 1308-1311, painted choir screens from 1332-1340, and a series of statues and stained-glass windows from the early 14th century.

The cathedral's artistic masterpieces include the Gero Crucifix, a large oak crucifix with traces of paint and gilding, believed to be the oldest large crucifix north of the Alps, dating back to the 10th century. Another highlight is the Shrine of the Three Kings, a large reliquary in the shape of a basilican church, made of bronze and silver, gilded and adorned with architectural details, figurative sculptures, enamels and gemstones. It is considered one of the most sophisticated examples of medieval goldsmithing.

The cathedral's stained-glass windows are also noteworthy, with the oldest dating back to the 13th century. In 2007, a modern stained-glass window by artist Gerhard Richter was installed in the south transept, composed of 11,500 pieces of coloured glass in 72 solid colours, creating an abstract tapestry of colour.

Cologne Cathedral is a testament to the enduring strength of European Christianity and the skill of medieval craftsmen. Its architecture, both inside and out, is a sight to behold, making it one of Germany's most famous landmarks.

History

Cologne Cathedral, officially the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture. It is Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of 6 million people a year.

The site of Cologne Cathedral has been occupied by Christian churches since the 4th century. The cathedral's construction began in 1248, but was halted around 1560, and remained unfinished for several centuries. The original structure was destroyed by fire in 1248, and work on the present cathedral, designed in the Gothic style, commenced immediately after. The choir was consecrated in 1322, but construction continued until 1560 (or 1520, according to some sources).

During this period, a large wooden crane was left standing about 184 feet above the ground, at the top of the south tower. In the 1790s, French Revolutionary troops occupied Cologne and used the cathedral as a stable and hay barn. Restoration work began in the 1820s, and in 1842, a new cornerstone was laid by King Frederick William IV of Prussia. Work to complete the cathedral resumed in earnest, guided by architectural drawings made in about 1300. The edifice was finally completed to its original medieval plan in 1880, 632 years after construction had begun.

Cologne Cathedral suffered damage during World War II, but the medieval windows had been removed beforehand, and repairs were completed by 1956. The cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List of culturally important sites in 1996.

Artworks

The artworks inside Cologne Cathedral are many and varied. Near the high altar is the Shrine of the Three Kings, a masterpiece of medieval goldwork by the goldsmith Nicholas of Verdun. This large reliquary in the shape of a basilican church is made of bronze and silver, gilded and ornamented with architectonic details, figurative sculpture, enamels and gemstones. It was commissioned by Philip von Heinsberg, archbishop of Cologne from 1167 to 1191, and contains what are said to be relics of the Magi who attended the infant Jesus.

The altarpiece in the Lady Chapel (on the south wall of the choir) is a triptych entitled The Adoration of the Magi (c. 1445), which was made by Stefan Lochner, one of the outstanding painters of the Cologne school. The cathedral's oldest stained-glass windows date back to the 13th century. A more modern example is the immense stained-glass window by the Cologne-based artist Gerhard Richter, completed in 2007 as a permanent replacement for 19th-century glass that was destroyed in World War II. Richter's window consists of more than 11,000 square panes in 72 solid colours, arrayed seemingly at random within the many-mullioned window.

The choir retains a great many of its original fittings, including the carved stalls, despite French Revolutionary troops having desecrated the building. A large stone statue of St Christopher looks down towards the place where the earlier entrance to the cathedral was, before its completion in the late 19th century.

The choir screen paintings with their 21 narrative representations date from 1340 and formed the largest and most ambitious mural painting cycle of that time. Above the paintings in the choir are older pier sculptures of Jesus, Mary and the twelve apostles.

The high altar, which was installed in 1322, is constructed of black marble, with a solid slab 15 ft (4.6 m) long forming the top. The front and sides are overlaid with white marble niches into which are set figures, with the Coronation of the Virgin at the centre.

In the Sacrament Chapel is the Mailänder Madonna ("Milan Madonna"), a high Gothic carving, depicting the Blessed Virgin and the infant Jesus. It was made in the Cologne Cathedral workshop sometime around 1290 as a replacement for the original, which was lost in a fire. The altar of the patron saints of Cologne with an altarpiece by the International Gothic painter Stefan Lochner is in the Marienkapelle ("St. Mary's Chapel").

Visiting

Cologne Cathedral is open to visitors daily from 6 am to 8 pm. It is free to enter, but there are paid tours available. The cathedral is a working church, so tourists can generally visit on weekdays between 10 am and 5 pm, and on Sundays between 1 pm and 4 pm. However, as church services take priority, opening hours may change.

The cathedral is easily accessible by public transport and car, and is located near the main railway station.

There are several rules that visitors must follow when entering the cathedral. Only small bags and rucksacks (maximum A4 size) are allowed inside, and identity checks are carried out by cathedral staff. Visitors are also expected to dress appropriately—sleeveless or cropped tops, short shorts or skirts are not allowed, and men may cover their heads for health or religious reasons.

There are 533 steps to the viewing platform, which is about 100 metres above the ground in the south tower. The tower is open to the public from 9 am to 6 pm between March and October, and from 9 am to 4 pm from November to February. The last admission is half an hour before closing. Tickets cost €8 for adults, and there are reduced rates for children, students, and people with special needs.

There are several artworks and objects of interest inside the cathedral, including the Shrine of the Three Kings, which is said to contain the relics of the Magi, and the Gero Crucifix, the oldest large crucifix north of the Alps. The cathedral is also known for its impressive stained-glass windows, including the modern abstract window by Gerhard Richter, which was installed in 2007.

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